The Flames' woes on the road continued last night with a loss versus the Capitals, and further bad news might be just around the corner. Rene Bourque has a hearing with the Sheriff today, following a hit on Nick Backstrom late in last night's loss.

That's not good. Bourque, at least to my eyes, appeared to target Backstrom's noggin with his elbow, and given his recent run-in with the law after the Seabrook hit, there's a chance he might get an extended vacation. That's the type of predatory play that the league has been attempting to eliminate, so with Bourque's past status factored in, another suspension seems like it could be in the cards. Thoughts?

Man - that guy needs to wake up! There's NOTHING more frustrating than sitting on the bench at a critical time of the game, and seeing one of "the usual suspects" take a dumb needless penalty. With Bork, it's every game, he'll take a stick infraction 200 feet from his goalie, when the game is on the line. This one, I think the elbow is pretty obvious....intent or no intent, he's upright as tall as he can be, with his elbow up. Brace yourself Bork, long weekend ahead for you!

Pierre LeBrun tweeted earlier this morning that Bourque was getting a phone hearing, so the top end won't be more than 5. No matter, it was another dumb play in a season increasingly full of them on his part.

Is there any possibility we can get the NHL to give Bourque a 2 out of three suspension for the rest of the season? He seems to disappear for two games, then play well for one, then disappear for another 2....

I was hoping that Bourque would have a decent seasaon, and that we could possibly unload him at the trade deadline... Based on this season, guess we are stuck with his contract for this and four more seasons.

Bourque has to be one of the most frustrating players on the team. He has the skills to dominate games, and the skills to be invisible, if not damaging to the squad.

Such a lack of respect is inexcusable. Does a phone hearing mean that his max suspension is 5? I'd give him 8-10 for that. Blatant intent to injure... And from a guy who was concussed by an elbow last season... Terrible.

Other than the idiot who throws the elbow, there are a lot of external participants in an infraction like this. Sure you could blame the coach, but you could also blame the NHL for the instigator rule...

Bourque would think twice about doing this again if someone beat the snot out of him for it... which he certainly deserves.

Bourque has trouble playing with intensity and emotion from game to game. I hope plays like this don't creep further into his game when he tries to add heart into his performance. This is a truly selfish and stupid play, which deserves a lengthy suspension. I defended him (moderately) for the Seabrook hit because I thought it was a little heavy and he's not normally a dirty player. I may need to re-think this now.

Solution: trade this player. He still has value and should fetch a good return at the deadline. It would rid the team of an inconsistent and frustrating player.

The instigator rule never stopped plays like this in the past. It just meant a couple guys would fight about it afterwards.

While I'm not necessarily a fan of the instigator rule, I agree that removing it wouldn't have prevented Bourque, or anyone else, from doing this. It only means that teams start stockpiling the proverbial "nuclear deterrents".

All I can think when I see Bourque do this is "what the hell was he thinking?" I understand the idea of being fired up for a game and not liking your opponent, but to chicken-wing a guy in this situation against a team you hardly ever see and have very little history against just seems like such a brain-cramp that if he weren't suspended I'd expect the coach to sit him down for awhile.

It makes as much sense as a 6'6" Sutton leaving his feet to hit a 6'4" Ponikarovsky.

Man - that guy needs to wake up! There's NOTHING more frustrating than sitting on the bench at a critical time of the game, and seeing one of "the usual suspects" take a dumb needless penalty. With Bork, it's every game, he'll take a stick infraction 200 feet from his goalie, when the game is on the line. This one, I think the elbow is pretty obvious....intent or no intent, he's upright as tall as he can be, with his elbow up. Brace yourself Bork, long weekend ahead for you!

Agree 100% icedawg. I wish we could trade Bourque based on inconsistent efforts, bad penalties, bad attitude, etc. But the long-term but reasonable salary may scare away teams (as well as the inconsistency). Hey Toronto - how about Kulemin for him?

One more idea, on jetsnation.ca Scott Taylor has suggested that Jets may want to consider trading Byfuglien. I would take him for Bourque and use as a forward! He can be, as Buffalo announcer Rick Generet says...."scary good".

We need some defensive help bad. Its the Flames achilles heel by far. Bourque for a top 4 dman would be nice. Or a top 4 prospect looking to break in. There are alot more out there than you would think.

Bourque was more nebulous about his hit on Backstrom. Bourque was suspended two games last month for a hit on Brent Seabrook of the Chicago Blackhawks, and this one could lead to more time off the ice.

"Did it look really bad? Was he hurt? I didn't even know if I clipped him," Bourque said. "I didn't even know if I hit him in the head."

This guy is totally clueless, living in another reality. I don't think he even cares if he gets suspended or traded.

So he's on pace for another 27 goal season, but big whoop if the Flames miss the post season. In fact, he's on pace for 15-20 points less. He was a minus 17 last season.

One more idea, on jetsnation.ca Scott Taylor has suggested that Jets may want to consider trading Byfuglien. I would take him for Bourque and use as a forward! He can be, as Buffalo announcer Rick Generet says...."scary good".

Has Bourque taken over for Stajan as the most disliked Flame {whipping boy}?
By reading all the blogging going on here I would think he is. Too bad, I really felt that when he played against Calgary as a Blackhawk, he stood out. Ever since Langkow was injured his play has declined. Another player who looked good somewhere else and comes to this team and plays poorly.
Trading Bourque would be good thing right now or at the deadline.

Okay, so here is what you do: get Peter Chiarelli REALLY drunk (as in MASH-drunk) and convince him that you've got an R. Bourque to trade and let his inebriated mind make the mistake. Then trade him for Dougie Hamilton and a first round pick. Get the papers signed and registered with the NHL quickly before anyone can file a grievance and you're laughing.

Maybe Feaster can convince a few more GM's to go on a retreat in the mountains, get them drunk, have some incriminating pictures. Then we can have some lopsided trades in our favor for once.
Only to dream.

Just straight up brother. Seems fair to me. Both have great potential but one takes too many risks playing D (Buff) and should move to forward. Meanwhile the other guy(Bourque) has the inconsistency issues, and similar to Dion (High and Wide) Phaneuf, he may NEED a trade to wake him up and realize how lucky he is to make many times the average person for playing a game!

Byfuglien is, for whatever reason, way more effective on D than at forward. He's not a defensive stalwart, but the amount of shots he directs at the opposing net more than cover up for any defensive liability he brings.

Has Bourque taken over for Stajan as the most disliked Flame {whipping boy}?
By reading all the blogging going on here I would think he is. Too bad, I really felt that when he played against Calgary as a Blackhawk, he stood out. Ever since Langkow was injured his play has declined. Another player who looked good somewhere else and comes to this team and plays poorly.
Trading Bourque would be good thing right now or at the deadline.

You must have seen his best games then as his best years whave clearly been as a Flame. In 3 seasons with the Hawks he scored 16,7 and 10 goals and played 3rd/4th line in mostly pre Kane/Toews era.
In spite of his fall off as a player he was a solid force for the Flames for a time. He has the ability to be a top power forward but seems to lack motivation.
Probably a change of scenery might do it for him, unfortunately the 2 recent suspensions can't help his marketability.